Airbnb and Vatican Collaborate to Host Pilgrims for 2025 Jubilee

In a landmark collaboration, Airbnb has announced its partnership with the Dicastery for Evangelization of the Holy See, aiming to support the influx of pilgrims¹ for the Catholic Jubilee in 2025. This initiative seeks to enhance the pilgrimage experience while promoting sustainable tourism in Rome. Scheduled from December 24, 2024, to January 6, 2026, the holy year is anticipated to attract about 30-35 millions pilgrims, presenting a unique opportunity for community-driven hospitality and responsible travel practices.

The Partnership

To mitigate the anticipated pressure on Rome’s infrastructure and foster a more dispersed tourism flow, Airbnb is introducing a dedicated multilingual landing page that not only showcases a diverse array of accommodation options across the entire Rome province but also brings to life the rich cultural and spiritual heritage beyond the city center. This platform will spotlight authentic, high-quality stays in picturesque towns and serene countryside settings, offering pilgrims and travelers a chance to experience the region’s hidden gems while staying connected to the spirit of the Jubilee.

Additionally, a comprehensive digital responsible tourism guide will serve as a gateway to exploration beyond central Rome. It will highlight significant religious and historical landmarks, ensuring that visitors are aware of the spiritual and cultural treasures that extend beyond the Vatican and the St. Peter’s Basilica.

To further amplify these efforts, an email campaign will reach all guests traveling to Rome throughout the year, inspiring them to consider alternative destinations within the province. By spotlighting unique pilgrimage routes, local traditions, and lesser-known sanctuaries, these measures will help distribute economic benefits across the broader region while fostering a travel experience that aligns with the values of the Jubilee—faith, culture, and sustainability. Hosts in the province will also be empowered with tools and guidance to enhance guest experiences, ensuring that every stay reflects the warmth and authenticity of Italian hospitality.

Valentina Reino, Airbnb Italy Policy Lead, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are profoundly honored to collaborate with the Holy See in facilitating a memorable and sustainable Jubilee for pilgrims and the local community alike. This partnership underscores our commitment to responsible hosting and travel, ensuring that the spiritual journey of millions also contributes positively to the host community“.

His Excellency Mons. Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, commented: “We are grateful to Airbnb for seizing this opportunity to serve the community. I am sure that their commitment will be appreciated by all those who do not live in the historic center but are equally involved in the Jubilee celebrations.”

As preparations for the Jubilee year unfold, Airbnb invites prospective pilgrims and hosts to explore the dedicated landing page for accommodations and helpful resources. The initiative reflects Airbnb’s ongoing efforts to support large-scale events in a manner that respects and benefits local communities, setting a precedent for future collaborations between the platform and global events.

On big events

From the 2025 Jubilee to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games – of which Airbnb is a top partner – the company is committed to making big events a success for everyone: guests, hosts and local communities.

• From January 2025, Airbnb has enforced national registration and deactivated all listings without a CIN except those where hosts have  declared the listing is pending assignment or rented long term for non-touristic use.
• Airbnb also supports cities and institutions in their effort to crack down on keyboxes when they are illegally installed in public spaces (e.g., streets, fences, parks, benches).
• All guests booking homes and hosts are required to go through an identity verification process. Verifying people’s identity means verifying certain personal information, such as your legal name, address, phone number or other contact details. 
•  In 2023, Airbnb launched an updated hosting quality system, which takes a more targeted and holistic approach to evaluate listings against quality criteria. Since its launch, Airbnb removed over 400,000 listings worldwide that failed to meet the company’s quality standards².
• Airbnb also focused on reducing host cancellations, which is a major pain point for guests, and made significant changes to deter avoidable host cancellations, which have contributed to host cancellation rates in Italy decreasing nearly 47 percent year over year³.